Remembrance of Things Past at the Dawn of 2025

For one's true nature to manifest itself, one must give up the false identifications congealed in the illusory entity called ego. It does not dissolve without a living master

- MAKARAND R PARANJAPE

The new year began with a certain stillness. The year just gone by, 2024, had been eventful, even turbulent. There was no guarantee that 2025 would be any different, let alone better, for myself or the world. But whatever happened outside, I knew I had to retain my inner poise and calm. And that would only come from the purity of intentions and cleansing of the inner being. Through tapas, askesis.

A new year's resolution materialized: accept, not expect.

Then, on January 2, I met Sri Nandkishore Tiwari, better known as Guruji, who said almost the same thing to me: "Don't expect anything from anyone."

He had sent me his book, Sahaj Smriti Yog, in original Hindi, asking me to write a preface or foreword. Unqualified to do so, I offered instead to write a shorter comment that might serve as a blurb or endorsement. I wrote it in Hindi, so let me translate, rather paraphrase, in English.

"In this concise and concentrated booklet, Nandkishore Guruji explains and expounds 'Sahaja Smriti Yoga'. In short, it is realizing one's true nature through a transformative relationship with the guru. Through this process, a spectator becomes a seer.

The unique feature of Sahaja Smriti Yoga is that it eschews artificial, complex, and cerebral methods of self-realization. It emphasizes direct experience through prajna or intuitive understanding. We may also call it the reorientation of our mentality towards wisdom.

Like many other paths in Sanatana Dharma, the foundation of